Check it! - Rocks and soil - Year 3

In the educational resource for Year 3 students, the topic of exploration is the fascinating world of rocks and soil. The material prompts students to delve into the main types of rocks found on Earth, encouraging them to frequently review and reinforce their learning. To aid this process, several creative review strategies are suggested, including a 'Brain dump', where students quickly jot down everything they know about the topic, and 'Give me FIVE!', a method that could, for example, involve naming five different fossils or listing five facts about sedimentary rocks.

The resource also encourages students to expand their thinking and elaborate on what they've learnt. For instance, students might explore the composition of soil, examining the various elements that contribute to its makeup, or consider the age and formation of fossils. They are prompted to name the three main types of rocks—sedimentary, igneous, and a third type not specified in the excerpt—and to describe the nature of each. Additionally, the material includes a 'Pyramid Check' exercise, designed to assess students' understanding, starting from basic concepts at the bottom and increasing in difficulty towards the top. Through these engaging activities, students are expected to gain a solid understanding of geological concepts, including the stratification of sedimentary rocks and the origins of fossils.